French Church Attacker Identified as 19-Year-Old Adel Kermiche

Two attackers were neutralised after they took hostages in a church in North France, killing a priest.

Two armed men were neutralised after they took hostages in a church in North France, one hostage was killed. (Photo: AP)

One of the knifemen who attacked a church in northern France on Tuesday was identified as 19-year-old Adel Kermiche, who was under close surveillance after two failed attempts to reach Syria last year, France’s anti-terror prosecutor said.

After the last attempt in May, 2015, Kermiche, who was from the Normandy town, was detained until March.

ISIS’s news agency on Wednesday posted a video of two men it said were those who attacked a church in France, pledging allegiance to the group’s leader.

The video was posted by Amaq news agency a day after two men burst into a church in Normandy during a service, forced the priest to his knees and slit his throat.

Police were still seeking to identify the second of the two attackers and raids were underway, Molins added.

He also mentioned that the two men were carrying a “fake explosive device covered in aluminium foil” along with hand-held weapons when they entered the Catholic church. The attackers also shouting “Allahu Akbar,” according to his statement.

A photo of the 86-year-old French priest Jacques Hamel who was killed in the attack on a church in Normandy. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@NTarnopolsky)

This comes after ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack through its news agency Amaq.

Priest’s Throat Slit, Attackers Neutralised

Two men took several people hostage in Saint Etienne Du Rouvray in Normandy on Tuesday.

An 86-year-old priest Jacques Hamel, among those taken hostage in a church in Normandy, northern France, had his throat slit with a blade, a police source said. Another hostage has been seriously wounded.

Both hostage-takers were killed in the police operation, said the spokesman of the Internal Ministry.

French President Francois Hollande shakes hands with police and security services personnel after arriving at the scene of the hostage situation. (Photo: AP)

French President Francois Hollande in a televised statement on Tuesday said that France needed to fight the war against ISIS “by all means”.

He added that the Islamist militant threat to France and Europe has never been so severe.

In the face of this threat that has never been greater in France and Europe, the government is absolutely determined (to defeat) terrorism.